LeBron James Makes History as the Lakers Fall to the Cleveland Cavaliers

01 Jan 2025 ScoreWaves Staff view

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LeBron James isn’t a stranger to breaking records. Over the course of his illustrious career, King James has created history on several occasions, like becoming the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. However, LeBron created a piece of basketball history, which is hard to even fathom. Last night, LeBron became the first player in NBA history who played in the league as a teenager as well as after his 40th birthday.

James, who made his NBA debut against the Sacramento Kings as an 18-year-old in 2003, turned 40 on 30th December. Despite making history, the Los Angeles Lakers succumbed to a defeat against Cleveland Cavaliers by a scoreline of 122-110. LeBron showcased his timeless brilliance with 23 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds in 34 minutes, but it wasn’t enough to steal the show. Anthony Davis was a force of nature, dropping 28 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, while Austin Reaves lit up the court with a jaw-dropping 35-point performance. Still, the Cavaliers had the final word. Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell delivered clutch performances, leading Cleveland to their eighth consecutive win and spoiling LeBron’s historic night with a display of dominance that left the Lakers searching for answers.

Following the game, LeBron addressed questions about his future and how long he plans on playing in the NBA. The 40-year-old admitted that he plans on ending his NBA career as a Laker. He said, “I’d love for it all to end here. That would be the goal. I came here to play the final chapter of my career and close it here." However, LeBron acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the business side of professional basketball: "I’m not naïve or overly idealistic about how the basketball business works. But I think my relationship with this organization speaks for itself."

King James also stated that he still has the quality to play at a high level well into his 40s. But unfortunately, James doesn’t plan on doing that. Speaking about his retirement plans, LeBron said, “It won't be because I can't play this game at a high level. It won't be because of that. To be honest, if I wanted to, I could probably play this game at a high level for probably about 5 to 7 years. But I'm not going to do that." The stats do back LeBron’s claim. In his 22nd NBA season, LeBron is averaging 23.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game, setting a new benchmark as the first player ever to post such stats in his 22nd NBA season. What’s more, LeBron’s durability continues to amaze. He’s missed only three games this season, lacing up for 29 matches and showing no signs of slowing down.

Also Read: New Laker Dorian Finney-Smith Opens Up on Playing Alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis